So one of the fork seals on my 06 R6 is leaking and I want to go ahead and get both of them serviced. I called up a local shop here in Gaithersubrg (RAM), and was quoted $365!!! Any thoughts on a better place to get the seals changed out? I'd look into doing it myself, but I don't have the fork compression tools or the drive/know-how to DIY.

Sounds like a pretty standard charge for a dealership... I just got quotes for seal/bushings replacement and fluid for $420 on my 07 VFR from MFI in woodbridge. Woodbridge colemans quoted 350.00 just for labor so about the same price once you add in parts. Let me know if you find anyone to do it cheaper.

So one of the fork seals on my 06 R6 is leaking and I want to go ahead and get both of them serviced. I called up a local shop here in Gaithersubrg (RAM), and was quoted $365!!! Any thoughts on a better place to get the seals changed out? I'd look into doing it myself, but I don't have the fork compression tools or the drive/know-how to DIY.

Call Jason at Brook's Cycles, good guy if you are willing to make the drive down

If the shop is charging about $100/hour. Figure 3 hours isn't unrealistic to do it right. Then seals & oil.

Buuuuut. If you were doing a whole refresh kit. Figure $200-$300 for the parts, and even more time to do a full tear down to replace bushings, sliders, check for burs/imperfections, rescuffing the fork tube, etc.

I can do my forks in a few hours no problem. But if I'm doing a teardown, I'm refreshing everything. That means attention to details a shop won't do as it would mean time and having to explain the charge to you.

If you are wondering, go pick up the Suspension Bible from RaceTech. It's like $30. Well worth the price. I still refer back to it every time I pull suspension parts apart. Plus it will help you understand what is going on, how to tune the bike, etc.

I know. I'm traveling far afield. But you are complaining about the cost of maintenance without understanding what is involved. Now, if you understood the steps involved, tools required, fluids & parts being replaced, and how to do it....then you can more easily judge if you are getting ripped off.

It's an easy job and cheaper if you buy your buy tools and parts. If you need help, there are plenty of us willing to help out. The hardest part is compressing the spring which isn't all that hard. If you need help, feel free to PM me too.

Is $385 on or off the bike? I know Kenny at MRP charges $150 for forks off the bike. Pulling the suspension yourself will save you a lot of money.

If you are interested in servicing the forks yourself, I'd invest in the Racetech book. It can be an advertisement sometimes, but there is a lot of good information on how the suspension works and how to service them. There are even photos!